How To Create a Custom Windows USB Install Drive

If there's one obnoxious thing about media from 5 years ago, it's those darn CDs that came with everything. Especially when it came to Windows, any avid custom PC builder will tell you - it's the worst install process known to man. Luckily, with a little help of Lifehacker, you can build your own Apple-like USB install drive, customized with only the Windows components you deem necessary.

While we highly recommend going to Lifehacker for a fully-fleshed out walkthrough of the USB install drive customization process, the general idea goes a little something like:

Although it sounds easy, we imagine this process will take roughly 2-4 hours depending on how fast your computer is and how much time you spend Googling every aspect of each Windows component when customizing it.

We'll likely give this a go when a few hot games come out (Battlefield 3, anybody?) and need to reformat for optimum PC performance. Let us know how your experience goes if you give it a whirl!